Jumbo despite his protestations was seized by four
brawny clowns, stripped of his apron and escorted
to a raised dais at the head of the ball. There
his collar was removed and replaced back side forward
to give him a sanctimonious effect. He stood there
grinning from ear to ear, evidently not a little pleased,
while the parade separated into two lines leaving
an aisle for the bride and groom.

Together the snake charmer and the camel ascended
the cheering aisle and stopped in front of Jumbo,
who adopted a grave pontifical air.

“Where’s your license, camel?”

“Make it legal, camel.”

A man near by prodded Perry.

“Give him a piece of paper, camel. Anything’ll
do.”

Perry fumbled confusedly in his pocket, found a folded
paper and pushed it out through the camel’s
mouth. Holding it upside down Jumbo pretended
to scan it earnestly.

“Dis yeah’s a special camel’s license,”
he said. “Get you ring ready, camel.”

Inside the camel Perry turned round and addressed
his latter half.

“Gimme a ring, for Pete’s sake!”

“I ain’t got none,” protested a
weary voice.

“You have. I saw it.”

“I ain’t goin’ to take it offen
my hand.”

“If you don’t I’ll kill you.”

There was a gasp and Perry felt a huge affair of rhinestone
and brass inserted into his hand.

Again he was nudged from the outside.

“Speak up!”

“I do!” cried Perry quickly.

He heard Betty’s responses given in a laughing
debonair tone, and the sound of them even in this
burlesque thrilled him.

If it was only real! he thought. If it only was!

Then he had pushed the rhinestone through a tear in
the camel’s coat and was slipping it on her
finger, muttering ancient and historic words after
Jumbo. He didn’t want any one to know about
this ever. His one idea was to slip away without
having to disclose his identity, for Mr. Tate had
so far kept his secret well. A dignified young
man, Perry—­and this might injure his infant
law practice.

“Kiss her, camel!”

“Embrace the bride!”

“Unmask, camel, and kiss her!”

Instinctively his heart beat high as Betty turned
to him laughingly and began playfully to stroke the
cardboard muzzle. He felt his self-control giving
away, he longed to seize her in his arms and declare
his identity and kiss those scarlet lips that smiled
teasingly at him from only a foot away—­when
suddenly the laughter and applause round them died
away and a curious hush fell over the hall. Perry
and Betty looked up in surprise. Jumbo had given
vent to a huge “Hello!” in such a startled
and amazed voice that all eyes were bent on him.